DILI, 15 february 2022 (TATOLI) – The Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE) conducted English language tests for 794 young Timorese workers to be working in Australia under the Pacific Labor Scheme (PLS) program.
The Pacific Labor Scheme allows Pacific Island country citizens, including Timor-Leste, to work in low and semi-skilled jobs in rural and regional Australia for up to three years.
The PLS enables eligible employers to recruit low and semi-skilled workers for between one and three years in any sector in rural and regional Australia. The program commenced in july 2018 following a successful pilot in northern Australia and is administered by DFAT, with the support of the Pacific Labour Facility.
The Government of Timor-Leste, through the former State Secretary for Vocational Training and Employment, Julião da Silva, signed the Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Australia for the PLS (Pacific Labor Scheme). The memorandum was signed on april 3, 2019, at the premises of the Secretary of State.
“PLS requires workers with good English skills, therefore, we need to carry this English language test to identify those with good English skills to be working in Australia under the PLS program,” the National Directorate of Foreign Employment, (DNEE) of SEFOPE, Filomeno Soares told reporters at the Camea Youth Vocational Training Centre (STVJC), in Dili, on tuesday.
He said more than 4000 people applied for the PLS program, but only 794 candidates were selected to take the English language test.
“Those who passed this English language test will get through to the interview to be held at SEFOPE office, in Dili, on thursday (17/02).
He said once the candidates passed both the English language test and interview, their names will be put on the SEFOPE list for the PLS program: “Once they completed the test, their names would be put on the list and after that SEFOPE would start promoting these workers to the companies in Australia.”
Since the implementation of the Seasonal Worker Program in 2011, the Government of Timor-Leste has sent more than 5000 Timorese to work in Australia.
“So far, these workers have contributed more than US$14 million to Timor-Leste,” he said.
Asking about the performance of Timor-Leste’s seasonal workers in Australia, Soares said Timorese workers had so far performed well, calling on them to keep it up.
At the same place, the State Secretary for Vocational Training and Employment, Alarico de Rosário called on young Timorese to improve their English skills to be able to communicate well with their employers in Australia.
“These candidates need to demonstrate their English skills to get through to the next step,” Rosário said.
He also called on young Timorese to perform and behave well when working in Australia.
In addition, the Director-General, for the Professional Training of SEFOPE, Paulo Alves urged young Timorese to avoid committing crimes and take care of their health and keep improving their English skills.
Alves encouraged those who would not pass the English language test to keep learning English to compete in the next test.
Related news:SEFOPE sets new criteria for working in Australia to avoid workers out from the system
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafy Belo
